Name Them One By One

I like listening to the music of Jenny Phillips. As I listen this morning, my heart is swelling filled with gratitude. It's interesting how each time I do Personal Progress the program aligns itself with where I am in life. Even the scriptures read give me varied perspectives and I see things differently.

I'm so grateful for this program that keeps me focused, moving, and ever growing.

I'm also grateful for the many individuals that bring great gifts to my life either in wisdom, example, or just friendship. My knowledge project completed, I've begun my Individual Worth Project which is to really prepare and learn to be a good seminary teacher and start the year strong. I've been going to Inservice meetings where I've been learning things about teaching I've never thought of before, and when I mentioned I was gutting my office, a graduated (adored) laurel voiced, "I want to help!" She came on her own, loving heart that she is, and used her organization talents to help me really gut the the room and all its inhabitants. We went through every file and inch of space. Every now and again she'd say, "This is the Rachael rule: If you haven't used it for a year, out it goes." And I followed her rules and we ousted lots. It was fun. But I'm still amazed. She came wanting nothing more than to help, and that sweet offer still moves me.

So my office is now ready with an empty drawer ready for seminary helps, lessons, ideas, tracked works/ doesn't works. It's also ready for PCC materials, and I am ready to get to work when that time comes.

Today I think about my Highlights Friends and their part in this as well. Since my first Chautauqua experience they have encouraged me, mentored me, and have given me opportunities to grow and give to others, and sometimes were bold about what I needed to do next where Kent would tell me things like, "Lori, you've got to stop thinking of your writing as a hobby or something fun, and treat it as a career. It's time to do school visits." Oh, how I love Highlights, it's family, and all I've learned. I've come from a timid thing to being bold in my career path standing tall and firm, resolute to keep pressing forward to learn and develop what is in me to be and become so I can greater give and serve in all facets of my life. Tomorrow I'd be going to Chautauqua learning and enjoying the company of truly great friends. But I'm going to school, paying my own way instead, at least to start. I made up a word to describe what I'm feeling "sadhappy," but today when I received a response for an apology for not being able to sit at the side of the best presentations coach I know, to glean even more of his wisdom. Sweet Peter sent me a note.

Sadappy, indeed, Lori. But I’d say happysad.

Sure, I’ll miss seeing you and catching up face-to-face. But I think it’s wonderful that you’re heading back to school. You are brave. You are to be admired for never being satisfied and for wanting always to improve yourself. That’s why you’ve done so well. That’s why you’re going to do even better in the long run.

I hope so. I want to do better. What an amazing place in life to be. What amazing ventures lie ahead this year. I'm no longer sadappy or happysad. My heart is filled with joy as I go forward trying to utilize the gifts the Lord has so graciously given me. And my heart is filled with love for those showing me the way and encouraging me in my life's journey. Oh, girls, Personal progress is such a beautiful gift from your loving Father who knows you and all you can become. I hope you embrace it and don't just let it lie. Be true to the royal that is in you. Reach for the highest that is in you. You are great.

Detours and Decisions

My knowledge project didn't quite turn out quite the way I had supposed. I had figured with what I saw in the brochure, that once accepted, George Fox would be a given, but when I went in for a private tour, I witnessed sticker shock. $29,900 annual tuition. Wow. I couldn't justify that kind of debt at my age. So I had to look at options.

PCC has a great transfer program. At $79.00 per credit I can get my General ed classes out of the way, and pay for the classes myself--that's a really great feeling. I can pay my full year's tuition plus get 24 credits and cover books. It feels really good to get to go to school and cover it myself with money I earned. I think I'll appreciate my education so much more for that. I know I'll work hard to get all I can from this experience. The more I think about it, I don't know that becoming an editor is realistic. I live nowhere near NY where all the big houses are, and I rather like where we are. I think I might enjoy teaching, as much as I love teaching writing, and the editing knowledge will still come in handy for my own writing. Who knows, maybe I'll teach writing at PCC.

No matter what we do, it's always good to have a plan B, a secondary plan that also reaches that main goal. My goal is to further my experience and education as a presenter and writer. I have to admit I love the presenting as much as I do the writing. It gives balance as I am just not a solitary person. I like being social.

My education is also expanding a second way. I've just been called to teach seminary, and my heart is just soaring with excitement. It's going to be a neat thing to really delve into the Old Testament and what an honor to teach truth to teens. It's going to be a new and exciting school year filled with determined doitism, faith, and prayer as I learn to do and balance.

I'm more than thrilled that I get to teach our youth, and am excited to continue my, long sought out, education for personal long term growth and service opportunity. PCC, here I come!